Clemson Football: How much is Trevor Lawrence’s likeness really worth?
The NCAA has taken a step towards allowing players to be paid off their likeness. What would Clemson football QB Trevor Lawrence be worth?
The Clemson football program- along with the rest of the nation- is going to see some shifts in how College Football operates, especially pertaining to notable athletes like Trevor Lawrence.
The NCAA Board of Governors supported a rule change earlier this week that would allow student-athletes an opportunity to be paid for the use of their name, image and likeness as early as the 2021-22 school year.
Though there are still many questions to be answered and plenty of holes in the proposal, Bloomberg released an article detailing just what athletes could make for their online and offline marketing as it pertains to their social media presence (as a bar for popularity).
The most popular college athletes- like Zion Williamson (Duke) and Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) could earn more than $1.25 million annually, according to the projections.
Trevor Lawrence, the current Clemson football QB, could earn anywhere from $300,000 to $600,000, according to his current social media following.
What is Trevor Lawrence’s likeness really worth?
Though the article is taking popularity into account by using social media following, there is a solid niche locally and nationally for a guy like Lawrence and what he would be able to make in terms of his likeness.
The NCAA is not allowing athletes to make money based off of their school or any trademark, so that means jersey sales or video game likeness wouldn’t be considered.
Instead, though, Lawrence could participate in commercials, marketing, sign endorsements and charge for his autograph.
When you look at his popularity- which would only rise as the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft- we could’ve seen Lawrence make well over $1 million annually for his likeness, depending on how you consider things.
Ideal NIL opportunities for individual Tigers. dark. Next
The change won’t be into affect until after Lawrence leaves college, but it is interesting to think about just how much the Clemson football QB could’ve made as the face of College Football and one of the most popular athletes in the sport today.